Top-spinning device.



8140244 I'oz @Ibtowmp Patented Feb. 6, I900.

C. P. YOUNG.

TOP SPINNING DEVICE.

(Apphcatxon filed Sept 30 1899 (No Model.)

UNrrEn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. YOUNG, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOP-SPINNING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,026, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed September 30, 1899. Serial No. 732,207. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, county of York, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Top-Spinning Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in-which-- Figure 1 is aperspective view, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a bottom View, of my apparatus; and Fig. 4, a detail view of the plug of the top.

The object of the invention is to provide in connection with a suitable table or spinningsurface a top-spinning device that will spin the top and eject it onto said table, where it will continue to spin and be free to move about on the surface of the table, the apparatus being exceedingly simple and inexpensive and being capable of affording keen amusement for children, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings by letters, a designates the table or spinning-platform, which consists of a circular plate having an upwardextending flange b and a depending flange 0, extending entirely around its edge, the latter flange serving as a support for the plate and the flange 6 serving as a guard to prevent the top moving off the surface of the table during the act of spinning. In the center of the table is formed a circular opening in which is fitted a bushing 01, which is inserted into the opening from the upper side, and is provided at its upper edge with an annular flange e, resting -upon the upper surface of the table around the opening. Projecting up through this bushing is a tube f, formed integral with a ratchet -wheel g, which lies against the under side of the table a, said tube f and ratchet-wheel being supported rotatably in the bushing by means of a short pin it, inserted in the projecting upper end of the tube and resting on the bushing and projecting into the tube a short distance. De-

pending from the ratchet-wheel is an integral drum '5, to which is attached the actuatingspring, which in the present instance consists of an endless band of rubber j, looped over two headed pins 70, fixed in the under surface of the table near the supporting-flange 0,

these two pins being separated and the doubled portion of the band stretched inward to form a ,loop, which is engaged over a pin Z, formed by making two notches in the drum 1'. A radially-slidable rod on is fastened to the under side of the table, extending out through an opening in the supporting-flange c and having its projecting end formed into a hook or handle. This rod is normally pressed inward by a spring '1', and its inner end normally engages the ratchet-wheel and holds the same against rotation, except in one direction.

The top is provided with the usual plug 0, which is provided with an exterior spiral groove extending from the beveled end of the plug to near the body of the top.

In operation the top is first screwed into the tube f, the pin h serving asa thread to cooperate with the spiral thread in the plug. Then by continuing the rotating of the top in the same direction the spring will be wound up upon its drum. When the desired tension is obtained, the rod m, acting as a pawl, will prevent the return of the ratchet-wheel. To spin the top, it is then simply necessary to release the ratchet-wheel by pulling out,

rod m, whereupon the ratchet-wheel and tube f will suddenly return to their normal position, and when the tube f is arrested in its return movement the rotaryimpulse imparted to the top will carry it up out of the tube onto the flange e, from whence it will slide onto the spinning-surface, moving freely about thereon, but prevented from leaving the surface by the annular flange I). served that the top itself serves as the winding-key, and that practically all the mechanism is protected and hidden by the supporting-flange c. The supporting-flange c not only incloses the mechanism, but also affords a firm support for the spinning-surface, enabling the apparatus to be placed upon a table or the floor and operated without handling. It will be observed that the invention is not confined to any particular form of spring, although the one shown and described is preferred, because of'the ease of which it may be secured in place and renewed when broken.

It will be observed that an essential feature lies in spirally grooving the plug of the top It will be oband adapting the same to cooperate with a pin in the tube, whereby all projections that might injure a child are avoided. It will also be observed that the pin working in the groove in the plug serves to prevent the top jumping out of the tube too quickly when the ratchet device is released, whereby I am enabled to employ a top of light weight and impart to it a high initial velocity. Thus avoiding the use of projections on the plug is also advantageous in that there will be nothing on the top to catch in the flange on the table, and thereby interfere with the free spinning action, whereby the top will spin longer with a given initial velocity.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a top-spinning device, the combination of a stationary flanged spinning-table, a socket or tube projecting up through the same and provided with an inward-projecting pin, means for rotating said tube or socket, and a spinning-top having its plug spirally grooved and adapted to be inserted in said tube, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of a table or platform provided with means for supporting it stationarily, a rotatable tube projecting up through said platform and having its upper end open, a pin for supporting said tube in the opening, said pins projecting into the tube, a ratchetwheel attached tosaid tube at a point below the platform, a tripping rod or pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel and adapted to be operated from the edge of the table, a spring device connected to the ratchet-wheel, and a spinning-top adapted to be inserted in the upper end of said tube and serve as the winding-key, the plug of said top being spirally grooved to engage the inner end of said pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a stationary platform having a supporting-flange depending from its edge and a guard-flange extending upward from the edge of the table, a central tube projecting up through the table, a ratchet-wheel connected thereto, a springactuated pawl or rod extending from one edge of the table in under the same and normally engaging the ratchet-wheel, a spring for actuating the ratchet-wheel and tube, and a spinning-top adapted to be inserted in the central tube and serve as a winding-key and be ejected from the tube at each spinning operation.

4:. The combination of a stationary table or platform provided with a guard-flange at its edge, abushingd inserted in an opening in the center of said table and provided with a flange at its upper end, said flange resting upon the upper surface of the table and beveled downward and outward, an open-ended tube inserted up through said bushing and supported therein bya pin the inner end of which enters the tube, a spinning-top having a plug being adapted to be inserted in said tube and provided with a spiral groove adapted to engage said pin, and means for spinning said tube from below the table.

5. In an apparatus for spinning tops, the combination of a table, a ratchet-wheel carrying a tube extending up through the table and adapted to receive the plug of a top, a drum or flange carried by said ratchet-wheel and provided with a pin Z, an endless rubber band and a pair of separated pins secured to the under side of the table at a distance from the ratchet-wheel and drum, the band being engaged at its ends over the pins and having its respective intermediate doubled portion looped over said pin, substantially as set forth.

6. In a top-spinning device, the combination of a tube open at its end to receive a topplug, a pin projecting into the tube, means for rotating the tube and arresting its movement, and a top having its plug provided with an exterior spiral groove, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of September, 1809.

CHARLES P. YOUNG.

IVitnesses:

HENRY O. IIncKER'r, J OHN F. STORMFELTZ. 

